Veterans Day is coming up – this Friday, November 11. The Battlefield Doc and I will be at a VFW post for breakfast and book signing. Doc loves to chat with other veterans, sharing where they were and what they did in the military and swapping stories. I watched the PBS documentary “Battle of Chosin” last week and was astonished to see all the combat video they had of the Korean War. Video that let me hear the horns and bugles of the Chinese attacking in the night, and the winter wind blowing down from Manchuria – brrr. Video and still photos that showed the horrors of what Americans and Chinese and Koreans lived and died through. Some of the survivors were interviewed, and many began to cry, even after all these years.

We need to see and to read about what our military men and women in combat areas go through. Six of our military men died last week, one in training stateside and the others in dangerous places overseas. We in our heated and cooled homes, sitting well-fed in our comfy chairs, need to be reminded now and then that we have survivors in our midst, many suffering PTSD, who deserve our respect and good medical care. Whether our veterans were in combat or not, they gave of themselves to our country, and the lucky ones lived to tell about it.

Doc said that often when he and his friend go out to eat, someone in the restaurant will buy their meal, sometimes anonymously. Doc wears his Korean War cap and his buddy is an elder veteran, too. Doc did not get any medals, but I’m glad he gets respect for all he did saving lives during that awful war.

On Veterans Day, set out your flag and listen to the stories.

Doc talking to a reporter at his author event at the Kirkwood Public Library